We talk about why it can be helpful to set a tripwire for making a decision or moving forward. We also discuss a Secret of Adulthood that’s very relevant to the practice of keeping a storage unit (even one that’s not really needed), and a know-yourself-better question related to the use of gadgets and gizmos.

Resources & links related to this episode:
The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (Amazon, Bookshop)
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
I'm partnering with Bookshop.org for Read 25 Day!
Pledge to Read 25 on June 25th and head to happiercast.com/read25day
Snuffle mats
Download The Happier app
Elizabeth is reading: Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America by Bridget Read (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: A Chance Meeting: Intertwined Lives of American Writers and Authors by Rachel Cohen (Amazon, Bookshop)


Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

We talk about why it can be helpful to set a tripwire for making a decision or moving forward. We also discuss a Secret of Adulthood that&rsquo;s very relevant to the practice of keeping a storage unit (even one that&rsquo;s not really needed), and a know-yourself-better question related to the use of gadgets and gizmos.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li>The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells (<a href="https://amzn.to/4kLdqNx">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781250389824">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li>Order your copy of <a href="http://happiercast.com/secrets">Secrets of Adulthood</a></li>
<li>I'm partnering with <a href="http://bookshop.org/">Bookshop.org</a> for Read 25 Day!</li>
<li>Pledge to Read 25 on June 25th and head to <a href="http://happiercast.com/read25day">happiercast.com/read25day</a></li>
<li><a href="https://amzn.to/3ZDOIWO">Snuffle mats</a></li>
<li>Download <a href="http://thehappierapp.com/">The Happier app</a></li>
<li>Elizabeth is reading: Little Bosses Everywhere: How the Pyramid Scheme Shaped America by Bridget Read&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/43QcPTq">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780593443927">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li>Gretchen is reading: A Chance Meeting: Intertwined Lives of American Writers and Authors by Rachel Cohen&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/4dSpn1o">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9781681378107">Bookshop</a>)</li>
</ul>
 Get in touch:&nbsp;<a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen’s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully. 

Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media https://lemonadamedia.com/  

Gretchen Rubin is HAPPIER, and she wants you to be happier too. The #1 bestselling author of The Happiness Project and Better Than Before gets more personal than ever as she brings her practical, manageable advice about happiness and good habits to this lively, thought-provoking podcast. Gretchen&rsquo;s cohost and guinea pig is her younger sister, Elizabeth Craft, a TV writer and producer living in Los Angeles, who (lovingly) refers to Gretchen as her happiness bully.&nbsp;
Sales and Distribution by Lemonada Media <a href="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-stringify-link="https://lemonadamedia.com/" data-sk="tooltip_parent">https://lemonadamedia.com/</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;

How to Build Happier Habits into Your Daily Life

Happier with Gretchen Rubin

Ep. 538: Set a Tripwire, Decide If You Need the Storage Unit & Do You Use that Gizmo?

We discuss why we shouldn't downplay things that are actually important to us (such as saying “I don’t care about my birthday” if you do care). We also review some fun new travel terms, such as "townsizing" and "JOMO travel," and we address the problem of waiting until we're ready to make big decisions. Plus, we tackle a listener's question about dealing with a spouse who makes hurtful comments disguised as jokes.

Resources & links related to this episode:
Order your copy of Secrets of Adulthood
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (Amazon, Bookshop)
After Hours with Jamie Rubin podcast
The latest travel lingo
A Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth: What Nebraska's and Oslo's Tourists Know
Happier in Hollywood Substack
Secrets of Adulthood Substack 
Design Your Summer Worksheet
Elizabeth is reading: Year Zero: A History of 1945 by Ian Baruma (Amazon, Bookshop)
Gretchen is reading: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (Amazon, Bookshop)


Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

We discuss why we shouldn't downplay things that are actually important to us (such as saying &ldquo;I don&rsquo;t care about my birthday&rdquo; if you do care). We also review some fun new travel terms, such as "townsizing" and "JOMO travel," and we address the problem of waiting until we're ready to make big decisions. Plus, we tackle a listener's question about dealing with a spouse who makes hurtful comments disguised as jokes.
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li>Order your copy of <a href="http://happiercast.com/secrets">Secrets of Adulthood</a></li>
<li>The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman (<a href="https://amzn.to/4n2mz65">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780802412706">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/after-hours-with-jamie-rubin-a-vital-city-podcast/id1794619189">After Hours with Jamie Rubin</a> podcast</li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/travel/new-travel-terms.html?unlocked_article_code=1.MU8.tppp.rFyQ0y8hVVXX&amp;smid=url-share&amp;utm_source=newsletter&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=newsletter_axiosfinishline&amp;stream=top">The latest travel lingo</a></li>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/podcast/a-little-happier-the-power-of-telling-the-truth-what-nebraskas-and-oslos-tourists-know/">A Little Happier: The Power of Telling the Truth: What Nebraska's and Oslo's Tourists Know</a></li>
<li><a href="https://happierinhollywoodpod.substack.com/">Happier in Hollywood Substack</a></li>
<li><a href="https://secretsofadulthood.substack.com/">Secrets of Adulthood Substack&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="http://happiercast.com/summerguide">Design Your Summer Worksheet</a></li>
<li>Elizabeth is reading: Year Zero: A History of 1945 by Ian Baruma&nbsp;(<a href="https://amzn.to/443qE0X">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780143125976">Bookshop</a>)</li>
<li>Gretchen is reading: All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (<a href="https://amzn.to/3SEQiUt">Amazon</a>, <a href="https://bookshop.org/a/15926/9780593540985">Bookshop</a>)</li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Ep. 539: Don't Disparage What Matters, Funny Travel Trends & Handling Hurtful "Jokes"

A double anniversary (of a wedding and of a life-saving medical cure) inspired this toast—with allusion to Gertrude Stein, Wendell Berry, and “The Office.”

Resources & links related to this episode:
The most purely happy day of my life


Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

A double anniversary (of a wedding and of a life-saving medical cure) inspired this toast&mdash;with allusion to Gertrude Stein, Wendell Berry, and &ldquo;The Office.&rdquo;
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/articles/today-is-one-of-the-happiest-days-of-my-life-2/">The most purely happy day of my life</a></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Little Happier: Paris, Rose, a Fortune Cookie—an Anniversary Toast to My Husband Jamie

We bring you a conversation with my friend Zibby Owens on her podcast Totally Booked. Taped in front of a life studio audience, we discuss my new book, Secrets of Adulthood, the beauty of frameworks, and why you should label your next email "confidential."

Resources & links related to this episode:
Zibby Owens 
Totally Booked 


Get in touch: podcast@gretchenrubin.com

Visit Gretchen's website to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the Happier app.

Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app. 

We bring you a conversation with my friend Zibby Owens on her podcast Totally Booked. Taped in front of a life studio audience, we discuss my new book, Secrets of Adulthood, the beauty of frameworks, and why you should label your next email "confidential."
Resources &amp; links related to this episode:
<ul>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://zibbymedia.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo-AMKroEM2zSbhyOctmXnR8wIzgHwDGJKctG8_4IQMnmGw05UK">Zibby Owens&nbsp;</a></li>
<li dir="ltr"><a href="https://zibbymedia.com/pages/podcasts">Totally Booked&nbsp;</a></li>
</ul>
 Get in touch: <a href="mailto:podcast@gretchenrubin.com">podcast@gretchenrubin.com</a>
Visit<a href="https://gretchenrubin.com/">&nbsp;Gretchen's website</a>&nbsp;to learn more about Gretchen's best-selling books, products from The Happiness Project Collection, and the&nbsp;Happier&nbsp;app.
Find the transcript for this episode on the episode details page in the Apple Podcasts app.&nbsp;

Ep. 538: Set a Tripwire, Decide If You Need the Storage Unit & Do You Use that Gizmo?

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